Rosebud
A girl's name of Old French origin with 738 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A member of the most junior division of the Girl Guides Association, now called a Brownie.
Rosebud is a girl's baby name of Old French origin, from the English compound meaning 'the bud of a rose' — the rose being the ancient symbol of love and beauty, and a bud suggesting potential, youth, and the beauty of something just beginning to unfold. It evokes sweetness, freshness, and the first blush of spring.
Rosebud gained cultural resonance through Orson Welles' 1941 masterpiece Citizen Kane, where it became one of cinema's most famous words — the dying utterance that unlocks the mystery of a life. As a given name, it carries the innocent sweetness of its botanical meaning.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Rosebud's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Rosebud breaks from that pattern, giving it a more distinctive edge.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Rosebud's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Rosebud has 55+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1888.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | #9443 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 18 | #5578 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 61 | #3855 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 94 | #2888 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 266 | #1721 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 178 | #1794 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 86 | #1485 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 24 | #1569 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 6 | #1254 | — |
The Story of Rosebud
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1921, Rosebud is a name steeped in history. Girls named Rosebud are most likely born between 1911 and 1931.
How rare is Rosebud?
With 738 total births on record, Rosebud remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1888, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 266 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Rosebud by the numbers
- Would fill 15 school buses
- Meeting one Rosebud per day would take 2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(55 years, 1888–1973)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 5 | #9443 |
| 1956 | 5 | #6712 |
| 1952 | 7 | #4838 |
| 1950 | 6 | #5184 |
| 1949 | 6 | #5140 |
| 1948 | 9 | #3826 |
| 1945 | 7 | #3956 |
| 1944 | 8 | #3633 |
| 1943 | 14 | #2538 |
| 1942 | 5 | #5246 |
| 1941 | 12 | #2646 |
| 1939 | 7 | #3723 |
| 1938 | 10 | #2894 |
| 1937 | 10 | #2899 |
| 1936 | 10 | #2825 |
| 1934 | 8 | #3408 |
| 1933 | 12 | #2520 |
| 1932 | 14 | #2347 |
| 1931 | 12 | #2556 |
| 1930 | 11 | #2818 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rosebud a boy's or girl's name?
When was Rosebud most popular?
How popular is the name Rosebud?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1888–1973